Employer Coalition (POWER Series) - Culture + Calling: Building Belonging While Shaping Career Paths

Description

This session will be a space for real conversation about who we are, where we come from, and how those truths shape the paths we take in life and work. Kara Warner will be share parts of her journey how I learned to connect my upbringing, values, and identity to the work I feel called to do. Together with Kara, attendees will talk honestly about the pressure to "fit in," the moments we've questioned our worth or direction, and how we can start to build careers that feel like a reflection of who we truly are not just what others expect of us.

This won't be a lecture. Kara Warner will engage attendees through open discussion, personal reflection, and real-life examples. There will be space to write, think, and connect with others, and attendees will leave the session with clarity, not just about a career path, but about how one's unique story, voice, and experiences can guide them forward. It's about finding the courage to create space for self, and to walk their path with confidence, connection, and intention.

Kara Warner Bio

Kara Warner, MS is a Family Life Educator, Visiting Instructor, Public Speaker, and author of False Feelings Appearing Real, a compelling collection of short stories told by women navigating grief, neglect, rejection, and abandonment. Hailing from Omaha, NE, via Hammond, IN, Kara has dedicated her career to advocating for women and youth, focusing on challenges related to self-esteem, personal image, perception, and empowerment.

Kara earned her undergraduate degrees in Black Studies and Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, followed by a Master of Science in Family Life Education from Concordia University in Seward, NE. In 2015, she launched programs aimed at empowering families and individuals, providing tools and resources to navigate trauma, life transitions, and personal crises. Her initiatives include the Beauty Is Skin Deep Program, which works to reshape societal perceptions of women of color, and the Black Studies Bootcamp for Youth, offering foundational knowledge of Black History to students ages 8–11.

From 2021 to 2023, Kara served as an Independent Contractor for Douglas County, delivering youth programming within the juvenile justice system, including the Douglas County Youth Center, the Juvenile Assessment Center, and the HOME Program. Her dedication earned her the African American Corrections Officer Community Beacon Award in 2020, as well as special recognition from the Nebraska State Legislature and Senator Terrell McKinney for her commitment to youth and families in Omaha. She has served as a facilitator, keynote speaker, and breakout session presenter for the Omaha Chamber of Commerce CODE Conference, College of Saint Mary, 100 Black Men of Omaha, Partnership 4 Kids, the Urban League of Nebraska, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and has been featured in Noise Omaha and Bold Journey magazines.

Currently, Kara serves as the Director of Programs for the Nebraska Writers Collective, a statewide arts initiative empowering youth in Nebraska and Iowa to explore poetry and performance. She played a key role in designing Writers Block, a collaborative literary arts curriculum developed with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS), creating opportunities for month-long writing workshops aligned with NDCS affinity months and establishing ongoing engagement with facility leadership.

Kara continues to support youth and parents through programs promoting self-empowerment, cultural heritage, and positive self-esteem. She is a devoted mother to her 13-year-old son, Zaccai, and remains deeply connected to her community through service on the Nebraska Statewide Family Engagement Center’s Special Advisory Committee and on the African American Unity Fund Committee through the Omaha Community Foundation’s Community Interest Fund.

Her mission is to connect and uplift families and communities by fostering healthy coping strategies and guiding individuals toward “emotional emancipation” from historical and social traumas. Kara’s work blends education, mentorship, and the arts to inspire resilience, personal growth, and collective empowerment.